Arkansas Legislative Arts and Technology Boot Camp

This is not a test. So I'm going to call the meeting to order and and thank everybody for being here and we would just go straight down the line on the agenda except that I just want to make a comment that this meeting is is an important one and that we are getting ourselves to the point after all the meetings and all of the work that we've done to begin to fashion report that has to be turned in because this could boot camp Committee expires at the August thirty first so we're going to have a lot of discussion from The folks who've been working with us the most outside of the legislature the Arkansas by the arts and so I think we're in for pretty good. We're in for a pretty good discussion this day but will try to keep it to the point. and the next thing on the agenda when we're discussing less cannot be here he has a family thing going on but he cannot be here today so the item C. is to approve the minutes so I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting of a motion the second all those in favor I. I'll those opposed okay motion carries thank you very much. I am D. R. the review of at five seventy seven and by the way that is in your in your materials at that you have at your desk. Does everybody have the materials does anybody need a copy. I'm sorry forty ACT. It's on page okay on page forty six I just got a marked up copy here that I want to just call your attention to some things because when we this is a a new and then some and in Arkansas perhaps a novel idea and I know for a lot of people catching on to us it be in something other than abstract has been a challenge we will get more to the point of the things that make it real as we are discussing it but I just wanted to do a quick review for the public and for you guys have what's really meant here in a little bit of history first of all you see. Excuse me you see all of those sponsors at the top in this one of the things the public always wonders if we ever work together on anything and this is a truly bipartisan piece of legislation not white rats two or three people or maybe one person from one party and the rest of from the other party and I have much of that is because prior to getting to this point we had established along with the help of our cases for the arts and giving us some good advice but we done legislators together and established an art caucus something that I hope we will continue and it was difficult to during COVID and so many things changed but in order for this legislation to continue to have of folks who understand what's going on people who are going to be champions for doing some of the things with this committee will be recommending we really need to keep that going and when we form that caucus we were very careful about that being a bipartisan caucus to the extent that we could get a balance of Democrats and Republicans needless to say in some cases that was a challenge but we we did the best we could and frankly and almost everyone of the art districts we were able to have to have that balance. Why is this called the boot camp. It's it's because we what we're looking at this is going around the state to do the work and it's something different we know that so it's not just a committee thing with the notion of a boot camp then something that you go to you have a commitment you learn you take what you learn and then maybe you become an officer and for folks who have been showing up they are now full fledged officers and some people are still recruits but that's okay we we take recruits sale so I we have done that and around the state but we've gone people have been very generous with their time very helpful to us so let me just call your attention on page one a line twenty eight the Arkansas is created the Kanemi insist of many industries and we normally when we talk about industry we tend to think about something that's a big building somewhere that you recruit somebody and you give them tax breaks and so forth and I'm going to be just up front with you when we if we get into the economics of this that might be something you need to think about with the creative economy because when use you see that list of industries here and the creative economy right below that starting with line thirty. And we we have this here so that helps to to help people understand how the creative economy is an industrial way not in the common sense but their industries out there that we have not been used to seeing as industries and they are listed there and you notice that technology is one of them so with that name art plus technology came out of the I understand that and the experiences that we have seen and so many other places that if you take the art and you take to technology put the two together that makes so many of the other things possible and it's one of the ways that we can make sure we democratize small the that we democratize access for more people in our communities to create a cada mais right in their home towns of the one of the reasons we need to quit quit fiddling with a making sure we have good broadband everywhere because for something like this to be successful we absolutely have to have that that broadband that we're talking about and I it this is not something that is out of the norm upstate New York which tends to be very rule for instance and there other places where but they they have the great broadband and they engage in many of these kind of images industries that we're talking about the quote because they're able to create the creative where there are and they are and sell their wares advertise them all over the country and many places all over the world right from their homes for example if you look at F. cottage industries cottage industries that's about people who really do things from their home base they maybe they're they're some kind of industry they can do in the home like I might be a soap maker and everybody in the world loves my so I don't have to go out and try to find a building to put it in because I can be a cottage industry I'm not paying all. That overhead and that's what I'm what I'm doing is getting a tax rate because I'm using part of my home you know to make myself or whatever and there is that there is a company very much like this right here in Arkansas that was it's not somebody making it from their home actually but there's a there's a company right here that's the exam about the so that's doing this kind of thing and we need to think about them and ways that we can help them expand and I'm going to turn over and. The only thing about number two at the bottom of that page is just to suggest to you that nonprofit arts and culture and that's critical information about it but Lenore is going to be talking about that more but we need to boost them understand how they can be a part of our economic success. I I talked a great deal in the Education Committee about it we don't grow communities if we don't change the quality of life where kids live that we can put all the money we want to in the Education Committee itself and lord knows we have resources and we keep asking why aren't things better one of the things that's happening out there is that we are not investing in our community is in creative ways and some times non creative ways this bill did not come through the Education Committee this bill went to the Economic Development Committee because that is the deal behind it and so when I just talk about not being site loading we can't be as successful in education as we need to be something like this is a possibility for helping address those outside factors by creating an economy right where kids live. And we're having a hard time making those connections because every other committee is just fine with everything trying to be solved in Education Committee and is that it is not ever going to happen that way and rather than just talk about we need an economy and economic structure everywhere this is part of what we're trying to do. And if you look down to line fifteen I'm gonna skips on that because I said some things that implements a line fifteen that that's that's a that's an important thing because the arts and creative experience play a vital role in supporting and improving quality of life across Arkansas that's what I was just talking about it has that kind of possibility and going down to line twenty four if you will. How it spurs economic growth for communities during recovery from disaster trauma and pandemics one of the things that tends to happen when everything gets destroyed and people rebuilt we rethink things and so often the way we rethink things the way we rebuild its through the arts. And we are there I think would not of that pandemic did not escape us you can see places around the country where they were to start processes by a tornado and they are growing back with art and technology at the foundation of who we are one of the latest examples of that of course is what's happening in Kentucky when they had a kind of tornado come through in the store a couple of communities if you look all the way down to line thirty five. that's what our intent to create a this boot camp and hold one or more boot camps to share ideas that can help Arkansas's ability creative economy we were hoping to be able to meet and every one of our our districts but time at a legislative session that went as long as we wanted to go and then we had a special session there's no that that impeded our time to have more boot camps and so we didn't get to use I a few of the districts but we had we had some of those districts involved in the of the online and when we had that famous condoms in. Hello. On the next page there is on online thirty is the date about when we expire and about our it making sure that we create an inventory one of our charges. So when we leave here. We need to have some notion about. How do we create we that's part of our charge create a database of what's possible and opportunities across this state and try to and we will have to do this you know add to that a way of funding and on going database so we can keep up with like in a library where you keep up with the latest books and whatever happened on growing database so that we can stay up to date on what's possible with the economy and an arts and and that's basically those of that the main things I wanted to draw to your attention about this and not in here but I think in reality it is going to be important that when we turn this report and and you're gonna be going to a session and twenty twenty three I'm not going to be here and I'm not the only champion but we certainly do have some of the champions but we're going to need more to help our state think about this creative economy and how we make it grow and not see it as something that is just some kind of frivolous thing out there and lastly we will be able to do that by thinking about the arts as something not just the way we've always thought about it now you're probably see some of its when doctors chose to talk about it wherever you are and we list some of the very last page there are some of those things where wherever you are. There's a possibility for growth our last it was unless the we were in Texarkana Texarkana for a last in in and the person In in person boot camp and in every case where we had a chance to have kids in schools involved we did so but not just kids in schools but we had. That was a a wonderful discount but can't because we had such a cross section of people and possibilities but I one of the ones I think that lives and all of our hearts the most was the presentations from from those from those kids and I thought that was really important because they're the one that's going once again grow up in this economy and need us to do what we should do the most so I'll stop there to see if anybody has any questions about what god is here. Question okay. This does hit. Thank you madam chair not so much a question but just to a comment to kinda echo some of your comments of having I think I made all the in person DO Caleb's and for those who may be visiting our committee of our listening online or something like that I found it really informative as to what the possibilities are for our state and just this morning I had a conversation with another legislator as I drove up here in the civil wasn't worth was this really worthwhile and I said and they said or was it just something we just spent money on and I said no it really has been worthwhile because it's opened my eyes and I think everybody is on this committee as to what the different parts of the state are doing and how we can connect those dots and hell will really truly bring economic growth through this part of the economy and how important was so I do want to think of the two chairs I know that you all have been instrumental for about four five years now to get us to this point and it with has been very worthwhile and I'm hoping that members of the legislature old and new we'll see the importance of the work of this committee and that this is a vital link in our economy so thank you for your work in that effort and I I thank you for that representative Dalby and we and our effort to Dalby was one of our charter members so and she has been to everything we've done. State. Who who else okay. Okay. One is one twenty four okay. Representative Springer you're recognized good morning and thank you madam chair and thank you to the members of this group who have of the Senate of this information to us very well done and that you didn't emphasize this but I think it's very important for the public to know on page forty seven of the report in the bill on the second page starting at line you start of that land I think twenty four I think you should have started it line fifteen three and twenty three as well because it imposed and I think this needs to be emphasized the arts and creative experiences play a vital role in supporting and improving quality of life across Arkansas ninety one percent of a Kansans believe the arts are necessary for a well rounded K. twelve education eighty two percent of all Kansas believe the arts are critical to local business and the economy and seventy two percent of all Kansans believe arts unified communities and seventy three percent believe the arts help them to be better understand understand of culture so with that being said it thank you all again for this report I totally support the arts and looking forward to the work of of that's going to be done in the future thank you so very you are welcomed when doctors shows makes her presentation I'm sure she'll talk about that is a more to and actually you if you keep reading there you see that up well before that you see the billions of dollars that are possible here and how the arts create add to our economy we can just do so much more all right is there somebody of senator. Thank you yeah yes. You senator Bledsoe. Thank you I have a comment as well as a question and it might be a question that's answered in Dr Schultz presentation but I want to thank you senator Elliott for your vision and the sweat and tears that you have put into making this happen and informing all of S. about what this means for education in our economies and really. you know you being a senator out of little rock and Pulaski County It. People don't understand what this means for every place else in Arkansas outside of Pulaski County and northwest Arkansas so I will. I want to point out that are very first off site. Meeting was held in pine bluff and it was awesome and everyone there was excited they learn things that they didn't know and it happened at a time where there was you know legislation going on movement from the efforts of Dr Schultz and Jimmy Hart Cunningham and others and so I I want to point a couple of things out. In a lot of what I was able to do came from other people and I've always said the best legislation and the best movement that we can make comes from our citizens income some leaders in the community but we were able to pass the delta rhythm and bayous tell highway which led to another representative passing several bills the following session or maybe that session and now Arkansas is the state that has the most music highways in the country how do we grow that and that's I think what this community recognizes we were able to bring the entertainment hall of fame to pine bluff and it made a small difference in dent in the efforts of our AMP Commission to grow our tourism footprint in pine bluff and so you know with every negative. Remark that people want to an intention that people want to pay to pine bluff there's so much that's going on in there so many efforts built around this very focused doctor shows for years serve time love as the director of our arts and Science Center with great distinction and the person who followed her has continued the vision of growth and I'm by to close but. People don't know that the arts and sciences are purchased some property next to it and to redevelop that spans and now it's a beautiful art space where we've hosted events already and it has changed the arts landscape of our city just to begin with it's the arts and residents facility in partnership with the arts department at UAPB those are the kinds of things that can happen to grow not only economically and educationally specific to those areas but brought more broadly the tourism calendar and with tourism being our second largest industry I guess my question is do we have any data that supports how some of these small efforts in areas outside of and I was outside of northwest Arkansas and Pulaski County I'm sure we could point to how the. Uniformity is them in Northwest Arkansas has changed the landscape and the economy and the education just it right not only that area but throughout the state so do we have any data that can point to how once we make these developments and grow in the arts what that means for tourism in that area and for the state I don't know I don't to shows would you be addressing something anything like that because that's you can just give me yes on I'll get the rest of the questions no. You know it's more elaborate than that that that because of it because I know that we did we did not do all of that because we we had we didn't have the time we needed to do some of this is the it's a report a final I'm now we're we're just that weird this is the first meeting to start in the report okay okay however now we we have that we have the possibilities of because there is a lot in here about once you create one type of state all right Kanemi how it leads to one thing to the next of the next to the next for example if you take a mural is a small thing but one of the things I think about it around the state is you know if we had tourism connected to miles of murals or whatever well if somebody comes to your town and they're on them your old school or they have to eat they have to buy dad's that's right in a little bit of going to sleep someplace I think I'll stay over and go fishing at lake Miller you know all these things are interconnected and we don't we can quantify that when we get that money and the people to quantify things like that we actually can we just have not had the time to do it in in for legislation thank you I appreciate your question rob representative right. Yeah. You know Senator Joyce I think the last time that we had a a meeting that was in Texarkana I saw something there that really related to I think the new movement that's going on with the technology and robotics. Not long before that I went to France and I saw a show up there that basically use the same. Situation as we were looking at when we were in Texarkana with the robotics and the music and how that tied together. And I think that were right on point is for for it going with this I am in this it's it's that's I think that's right written right and his job creation that's what. When we have a failure of imagination is where we end up thinking we can't do things aren't seem unusual. But it doesn't take a whole lot of imagination for example if if five somebody out if if we have robotics in or the thing of the future now and and technology in so many ways whatever it is we're creating we have to create the people to be able to service it and so there's no such thing as we are going to have a museum in Northwest Arkansas someplace else without jobs coming with it and we tend to think because there's lots of money someplace people have already created something we can't create something something say and Southwest Arkansas and south East Arkansas we can and I think the next time somebody says you know there's nothing there we just can't do anything about it I'm just going to DO a proverbial kind of you know smack their lips you won't be for real. Because what that says to me every time we have a lack of imagination to see how we can do things differently so I don't we don't have anybody else on the on the at one twenty four. That's just me okay all right so we will we will a Terry on why we're doing this you might want to take a look at the very last page of the legislation because they are and doctor shows one sure we'll get to this as well discuss some of the businesses businesses of the arts as well some creative industries doctor shows you're recognized if you just tell us who you are and while I'm at it as the so call your name so many times I mentioned that Arkansans with the arts were so crucial that group and help us get started I want to recognize garbled curry whose in the and the audience out there because they are both what. Garbo was one of those believers and I understand there's from the very very beginning and I just want you know how much we appreciate you and Aaron would you hold your hand up to because you've been holding us up as well as. We we we thank you guys for all the outside work and I want to stress one thing they didn't get paid one time to do this. And that's something that's something we should have thought about in the legislation and should have had them in as consultants if we don't work any further we should be we should remedy that because we are going to need them in the future but all right doctor shows. Hi I'm Lenore Schultz and the as representative flowers pointed out I spent the last decade imprime of Arkansas as the director of the arts and science and for Southeast Arkansas. As you also pointed out that the seeds that are planted three is what we call it growing the creative economy as we plant seeds and it takes a while for things to grow into what we hope that they're going to be I am happily retired and to as people say well has retirement I still means you work for free so. I'm thrilled that we're here and that we've been partners in all of this as you can see from the paragraph below the title up of above there's a lot of people that have worked on this I just happened to be the one that gets to visit with you on a regular basis but many people these are just the people on our board. If you'll turn to page four of your report. Document this is preliminary report. The process that we used. I have a back up a moment an Arkansas is divided into eight arts districts which also reflect the economic development planning districts so we actually approach this on an arts district basis. Act five seven seven. Hi this researcher recommend how to grow the creative economy by identifying existing assets exploring support for those assets seeking diversity equity and inclusivity in the work identifying bridges and gaps and then recommendations to grow the creative economy with art and technology. Our methodology. Well good heavens I guess now over a year ago we sent a survey out to everyone that we could think of in art and technology. And from the respondents we've then held focus groups and on page four of your report you're able to see in no particular order all of the people that worked in those focus groups we held the focus groups that V. isn't because we're in the pandemic. On this date in the eight arts districts and had tremendous feedback from all of those partners listed on page four and in two Page five. We have presentations to legislate towards. tomorrow we're going to release this document to all the focus group participants to get their review so it but calling it a creative community review will have their feedback back by the end of June and then of course you have the final report in August. So the survey results this is going to be a combination of the survey and the focus groups what we learned no surprise here funding is the major barrier right up there with broadband being a major barrier If you hear the broadband is solved. It is not it is solved in certain areas but is absolutely not solved if you're not getting that feedback it's probably because folks can't connect with you to tell you that they do not have the access that they need and that mind you is if you can even afford to pay the bill because eighty dollars a month for really really bad Broadbent is what I pay up in Mountain View. And I can't guarantee that I'm even going to make it through a call and I'm fortunate enough that I can pay eighty dollars a month. Some of them cannot emphasize enough funding broadband. teacher professional development and art and technology at all levels pre K. all the way through every form of education all the way through university and beyond because what happens for example a teacher enters into a profession well what if it was back when it was VHS tapes right you're a hop will guess what a lot of us entered into professions at that point in time well now you can't even find a machine to play it on but if I was the one delivering the content that may still be my go to if I don't have professional development. So that on going professional development think about what happened with elders during the pandemic think about the grandparents and the parents who ended up being their kids teachers during the pandemic how on earth with a supposed to on board to become the teachers there is not any kind of universal access to art and technology professional development. It is spotty at best life long learning many people want to keep learning throughout their lifetime but there's not a process in place again it's hit or miss and by this we absolutely do mean everyone including the elders in our society. Play experimentation and enquiring are critically important for the creative process. We developed into creative thinkers not by magic but because we practice it across our lifetime most particularly beginning when we're little kids they have so much structure in their lives but we must leave the time for that discovery play. People want life long health and wellness for everyone an equal access and equity for all many people don't think that it's fair or right or the way to proceed unless everybody has opportunity. We are losing our talent. One way to help retain and attract talent is through internships apprenticeships and fellowships. And we found a constant request for an on going communication network between art and technology other than somebody saying we can go to Facebook and creek that is not what we're talking about we need a universal contributed cation system so that people can actually work across silos. We held the cams we started here in Little Rock in September we went to pine bluff Bentonville Hot Springs Texarkana we had a zoom from Jonesborough The New York institute of technology technology osteopathic college of medicine at Arkansas state university musing on health and wellness. We assume my community development assume on diversity equity and inclusion and here we are back again in Little Rock we have had a very busy year. A doctor who sells yes all right I wanted to say that for me to when you talked about the apprenticeships and maintaining our talent here I think that's a very very important thing for us to to think about because this will be one of the things that is more quote unquote Adam the box that will speak straight to people in their thinking. One of the groups that we work with from UCLA was a student group they have formed their own caucus for the arts and they came down and and he made a presentation to us and I will never forget the young woman who was about to graduate and wanted desperately to remain in Arkansas she was not only was she offered a job in Memphis where they were actually recruiting her from Arkansas to go right across the river for them to grow their at their creative economy. Is there offering her an approved apprenticeship. And she was so torn because she wanted to remain in her state and make a contribution here but she was not going to be able to without some help so that's one of the things we have to think about not doing things the same way. We I don't know for sure yet we lost or not but I am pretty sure we did. Well that's a fair point and unfortunately the news in that direction has not improved at all in the last year. On page five in before you on the precinct Tatian as you know ACT five seven seven split out different economic sectors we dabbled with our agriculture and agro business although it's one of the areas that I personally think that there be so much of interest to be able to drill into more but we heard from cottage industries lucky star farms cash in tourism and recreation we've heard for of course Americans for the arts but pine bluff advertising and promotion commission you CA the runway group Arkansas arts council's sixty four six in Fort Smith visit hot springs the UC a center for community and economic development and these are just the people that came before you over the course of this last year. In health and wellness we have The New York institute of technology college of osteopathic medicine it is you the department of art design IT issue art education to issue bribery museum at ASU we have an hour it diversity equity and inclusion meeting we had the incredible benefit of Adrian Collins Lauren Wilson is with the multicultural center university Arkansas little rock and Margie Reese actually came to us through the mid America arts alliance and was a phenomenal presenter in technology we have had presentations from UAPB department of music arts and science enter the generator we had representative from the faithful city council we had professors from university of Arkansas Fayetteville causeway studio north or northwest Arkansas community college rock hill film studios in Fairfield national park college Arkansas school for math science and the arts Arkansas stem pollution our committee mereka science museum Texarkana school system you get the idea that we're not just flying solo here we've had the input from many people across the state experts in their field executive directors of their organizations in art and technology and we are incredibly grateful for all of them who gave all their time no one got paid by the way no we got mileage never got anything these are people who truly believe in what they're doing and felt it was very important to communicate what's going on in their fields and more important what the potential could be. I have one presentation this included in this document and there's a reason. This was held on art and technology and health and wellness absolutely blew my mind and we've been in conversation with Dr Lawrence for years we had we thought we had a pretty good grasp on what this emerging field is looking like what you look at the lower right hand slide current health and health care landscape. The health disparities are widening. Hospitals are being stressed. There are hospital closures on the horizon. Healthcare systems are being tasked with actually having to also address social determinants. Here again the technology disparities and what's happening is we are figuring that our health systems are supposed to cover myriad things that they were not designed to do. At the same time one of the solutions that they're finding is within art and technology so for example what I did not know was that even as people with. Alzheimer's lose every other capability one of the things that they retain all the way to the end. Is their creativity and that use of creativity and that creativity that I take for granted because I've just always done it actually is excellent for outcomes as we age so in addition to the socialization that can come about with these art activities it actually is something they can really help our elders but we're not approaching it that way the thing that they brought to the table in this zoom. With the idea of an inter generational space. And if all our dreams come true over in Jonesborough they would have a pilot project it would have kids and elders in the same space with Martin technology. They were all super enthusiastic about the idea it's being done in other places it's being done no we're here in Arkansas and when you looked at it you went. All dot makes all the sense in the world and they would love the opportunity to bring this pilot to fruition and actually experiment with it in real time the data that they have the things that they're with dealing with I've got it in your presentation the power point if you do nothing else take the time with that one because every single one of us is impacted by the health and wellness whether it's us aging with aging parents I don't care which lands we gaze through. This one is critically important and we're at the beginning of what these possibilities are going to be. Representative flowers asked about data. I'm always hesitant because state is such a complex field so in this particular instance you're aware of the county did reports that sandy Martin has worked tirelessly on. And in the final report will be getting you all seventy five counties. In your document you have eight district summaries. I've put two up on the screen the reason why this particular tool is so important is because you're able to compare apples to apples so would I have circled in red. The point eight five creative vitality index on arts district one basically that's a number where they looked it up on two different Analysis from across the country and they're able to spit out a number that says well you know how are you doing in the creative world. Okay northwest Arkansas's point eight five. Arkansas in general is point five one. But look at arts district eight which is south East Arkansas. Point two And because I spend so much time there I happen to know the if you pulled out the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the university of Arkansas at pine bluff. That number would not be close to twenty. So when you look at one portion of the state that's got a point eight five and and other portion of the state that's got a point to we have a lack of equity. Now you have all eight of those arts districts in front of you you will have all seventy five counties eventually. Vivian had asked for tourism numbers. On page seventeen I think it is of your document we had Chris to Cup from the runway group which is associated with Walton. And I happen to have in this report she had said that it's attracted crystal bridges by the way has attracted five point five million visitors and I had a one hundred and thirty five million dollar impact the reality is these numbers are very old to the reason why I said no when baby and asked about the numbers we need fresh data we have more data coming through from our Kansas for the arts and Americans for the arts also has data coming through in Arkansas is participating in an economic impact study with them as well but numbers are delayed generally looking back over a couple years what you have in front of you with those reports gives you're pretty darn good idea of where you stand in the eight arts districts. Two examples in front of you and. Unfortunately this is not terrific news. We have a talent drain and it is a very serious problem we do not have a statewide system in place to create talent. We're losing our graduates Senator Elliot just decided one example and since that time over a year ago it has only accelerated because many of the young people who are skilled in art and technology have jobs before they even graduate but that does not mean that they're staying in Arkansas. Texarkana I had decided that a number of people had left. That actually Morris happened even since just a month ago we're losing people mid career social media programs like linked in people might not even be looking for a job but they're being pursued and they're moving to other states so in Texarkana I think I said six or seven people just in the course of kind of being associated with this work had left since then three more one went to Texas and to to Washington state. And so when I say that this is a really serious problem I am not kidding people are retiring. It generation of volunteers is not being replaced because younger generations cannot afford to volunteer the two examples that are on the screen the quilt trail and gloves not guns which is a boxing program in pine bluff are very popular they were each started by a volunteer with a great idea neither person is paid both programs get a little bit of funding but not enough to pay anyone when these people can no longer carry on these programs are going to die and we have nothing in place to retain these programs these are indicators of the future. This is the Canary in the mine when we started the boot camps I thought that the task would be to grow the creative economy it turns out the real task is to try to keep up future economies are all about creativity when we were in Texarkana Chris disco spoke about taking his winning robotic team to Houston for an international competition. Was a real eye opener because they competed against teams have been working in the field for decades and we're only just getting started. Arkansas needs to invest in creativity art and technology need investment. Programs like east are working and they need to be expanded. We need to invest in the Arkansas arts council we need to invest in the Arkansas stem coalition. If it each intersection of education workforce community and economic development you invest in art and technology if you're deliberate about including all of Arkansas you're going to be the visionaries who built the path for kids to thrive in the future and the creative economy will grow along with them. That's my presentation for those of you been along with this I didn't want to rehash every bit of what we've undertaken over the last year I'm any questions comments. Who's one of. Who's in one of six okay okay right that makes going to thank you again thank you for your your work on this and not grab me afterwards I want to ask you something offline but that the question I have for the committee is. you'd mentioned that of course the can one of the concerns I've I've had for a long time technologies that we're training up a generation for somebody else the the benefit from. But converse to that in the last decade Arkansas was number ten in the state that people are moving to. So do we have any ID and I don't even know if there's a way to quantify this how much brain power were stealing from other states obviously we're losing some of our own but it seems like we would also be gaining some any idea how to compare that number what those numbers look like. Are we plus in that category remind us that category we've and I'd like that I don't know if there's a way to quantify just curious I can not actually statistically address it I can speculatively address it because I have pondered this so I understand my response is completely my opinion. My opinion my observation and my daughter and son in law or in technology my grandsons about eight years old so I I'm also observing from basically three generations perspective I think that it's very possible the people are indeed moving into this state because they view it as the less expensive place to live I possibly retiring to hear because it's less expected Benson place to live and it's of course a beautiful place to live what I see however in terms of the creativity which is the lens I'm gazing through here it is that creativity it seems to be leaving in droves it is the interns that we simply cannot keep it is the art educators it is I'm telling you even if the department of education the fine arts specialist we thought we really had some traction with a wonderful woman who Washington state with a fabulous art educator at the university of central Arkansas who off to another state every time we turn around another brilliant person has moved away and so I'm just looking at it over the course of a lifetime spent creativity at all last year completely in these trenches going man I can't even get traction because people keep leaving. Unscientific and on data just my opinion but I would be very curious to know you know the answer to your question. I also think that is it is not. Without numbers behind it because the census tells us and shows us that there are of so many people moving to Arkansas however the census also tells us where there that place is to which they are moving and when something is already built we have there's no doubt the Waltons of Tyson's and the Hudson made a huge difference because they've invested heavily in northwest Arkansas and I know some of them also. Very pro actively recruiting people to move to the state and remember the ten thousand dollars if you will move here but think about what they were going to be moving so usually it was not all of this state usually when people have the money to build things create things folks tend to gravitate to that we have a very opposite problem. And that I don't think we can think about Arkansas and used Northwest Arkansas necessarily as the model for the rest of the state because we don't have that kind of investment the thing that challenges us though is to look at every part of this state in go what is here what is there from which to grow how are we have we ever done a talon audit for example say just in our schools what kind of talents do these kids have that we're overlooking because we've always define creativity is something that's in a box you know that kind of thing so we really I'm going to have to grow or we are. And as soon as we start growing where we are I guess what happens and people start getting attracted but the challenge is always recognized and something that seems like it's impossible until you do it and we just have to have the courage to figure out a way to do it and recognize it failure is that it is as a part of it but we don't do it we certainly going to miss the boat and. Representative makes I appreciate even though you know you attended a number of these meetings and participated which I I certainly appreciate and we had a little exchange that in twenty twenty four we can have a big event coming up that is an opportunity for our creative economy to the the lead be a part of the folks who are going to be trampling all over Arkansas because we have something celestial from the eleven is going to be happening here talk about it later I next the next person is represented Dalby you're recognized. Thank you madam chair up. One is an observation into is a question so I'll start with my question to you doctor Schultz and thank you for traveling with us and being with us the whole way up. If we had a private or ties in this committee as to what we need to focus on first specially if we needed to do legislation or funding what would be your top two or three priorities it is that we need to say okay we have a limited amount of money are limited talent or or whatever resources to put it what would you advise or maybe suggest to this committee that we focus our top two or three priorities at this point coming into the getting this draft. Well that's a dream question sure and. It's so terribly unfair because it means you actually said that I can answer it which means I'm going to. So first of all as you know education is critically important I do not think it's possible to invest too much in as you've heard me say Artan technology technology in art through every single Lynch you possibly humanly can through every aspect of all of your work. That said there are certain programs that totally work you know that the idea was let's see what's there let's see what's successful let's see who's working in the field and if they were given more resources one let them run with what they're already good at don't build another silo unless you need one. There are some silos that are extremely high functioning and will work. East. Is a fabulous example they are high functioning they've been working for decades they tutor rific work there's so much room for growth I just happen to have a conversation with Matt yesterday because I would hate to ever speak on behalf of somebody but the fact is is that they would love to be in more schools and their highly effective and there are in technology your Arkansas arts council is absolutely a place to be able to fund and to grow they have a system in place it works they dispense grants they are high functioning. Your Arkansas stand coalition you met Hannah Vogler in hot springs that that network of stem has been in place high functioning so I would first look to those places that if they had more resources what could they run with and then there's nothing like a challenge grant but Senator Elliot called it something better a collaboration grant what if you took I'm gonna make up some numbers here. Hundred thousand dollars gave it to the arts council hundred thousand dollars gave it to the Arkansas stem coalition and said okay there eight arts districts. Each set aside ten grand for each of the eight arts districts and throw it open to the districts and say give us your best proposed what do you what what's the district doing what we fund this exciting out there and then keep twenty grand for years each of your entities because we know that it's going to be a paltry sum against what could be put in place a matching if the criteria was collaboration. Imagine if the criteria was okay it's got to be in our apartment is got to be a tech partner and you're going to get extra points if you're working with another place in the state if you're working with another age group if you're working in another silo and really just throw up Hayden's that's not that's not even chump change an imagine the difference would occur you know when you're districts if you said to your school district back home we've got twenty thousand dollars and each one of you can compete for five grand but you have to collaborate to get it and then to show with your results. You know girl shaking her head going to the people that they would be on it imagine the young people. They'll compete for nothing but if you put some money on the table so they don't have to spend their own resources and the teachers not spending of their own pocket. Those to be my ideas off the top of my head. Thank you madam chair may have of it's really a follow up comment to the Committee or something that I'd like to see maybe is a recommendation also we've talked about. Whether it's a brochure online connecting the different art districts as to what is there so that if someone. The ghost in Northwest Arkansas they find out that over in northeast Arkansas there's this and that's just a few hours drive over or down to Southwest Arkansas and I would like to see is connect those dots in this report also just my observation thank you. We're taking note of that a representative right. Yes ma'am thank you Mr chairman you know since the early seventies. You've always had music in the schools you've always had by an but these folks have never ever had the resources that they need. I know when I was back there marked tree back in the early seventies you know we we did well but we didn't have a lot of money and we could not pay our teachers like I felt like we should. We produced a whole lot but it we do really didn't have the resources to do what we need to do now it seems like to me that Rich in music. And I just wish and and see this is what really bothers me about this for a drop money and we send this back to the schools we we don't always hear mark these things and I think that we probably should because we're we're not getting what we need to go into and we're getting behind and there's things that we could be doing right now that we're not doing. So I wish we could look at that thank you Michelle's yes ma'am. Well I think that's something that that the committee is going to have to talk about in terms because we what we need to do is help people connect when you ask for money people always need to have a connection out what can the outcome actually be and I think that's the missing piece when it comes to any kind of investment in art technology so you're exactly right about that which is very clear that where kids have access to all right in a meaningful way it really improves other academic experience as well who is this for your representative Springer you're recognized. Of thank you madam chair again thank you Dr Schultz and thank you to the members of the Arkansas arts council again for your work with respect to this project I am not a member of this committee nor am I a member of the Education Committee but I see the need for collaboration between these two committees because I was very much disappointed in the reports that were of that have been given this past week with respect to adequacy of education of people know very much about me for but for over thirty years you I am young I'm not too much older than thirty but thirty years I have been heavily involved in education and equity in education to ensure that there is a adequacy in education equitable resources for all students regardless of race or color and in my work over the years it we we learned that the arts. I played a major role in reducing the achievement gap for sure there are reports within the Little Rock School District that statistically shown that art hello positive impact with respect to addressing student achievement so with that being said I would just suggest that this committee and I don't know how it'll it'll happen to know if it can take place but there is definitely a need for the members of the Education Committee and this committee to work together in order to address the adequacy of education within Arkansas thank you I thank you with the. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair induction is good to see you again. I mean run around after this committee. Right around the state and this for me and I I look at this beautiful young lady here. And I just get excited because nobody's told her she can't draw nobody's told me she can't create whatever she wants to start senate by her and as she gets older we begin to put blinders on her that preclude her from exercising the full potential as an individual that to me is what this is about it is about opening up all the creative powers that we have among our children never letting them think that there are things they don't do we have people tell me where you know you can't drop a nasty person a betting person then I brought something up but. A representative Meeks Senator Elliot and those of us on the Education Committee and I dare say those of us who are on Children and Youth because one of the things are missing too is that we have a number of children who were incarcerated. Who are handicapped of audiences and not too long ago they were able to create murals on the wall of the Arkansas juvenile assessment treatment center I am Alexander. We're not utilizing that because it may be one of those things to that precludes them from recidivism a and we see so much of it now I don't want to think just in terms of this and this we have an expansive and she was alluding to S. expansive opportunity representative Meeks is dealt with technology since this time in the chamber. Why we not collaborating among the Education Committee the technology committee and of the children use committee why we limiting ourselves I was so excited I was excited because senator Aliyu told me I was going to be exciting. About being a part of this we found ourselves of the on the third floor saying all guys he's making it do something else and it has become so exciting for me and representative right keeps alluding to that place. And that plate is just a primary example of what can be because we take for granted we look at these movies like Top Gun come out now look at the technology we look at the imagination look at the skill sets that went into making that movie and when I think about the play I think about him saying that. It's I don't know this blog Peter walking on the water and then began to sink when you get believe but Jesus walking on the water but we could see that on stage. That takes creativity it also makes money. Because people go to Branson all the time. To watch these kinds of things and so I am so excited I'm so glad that my mind was open enough to be creative enough to get in the car. And just travel and then we talk about the welding tax account was a great experience for me of course on the president's since I'm Southwest Arkansas but it was so great to see those young people with robotics and then their creativity making the robotics even more exciting and. The evolution. Of jocks we talk about wielding. My brother was a welder. It was more a physical trait thing in now my grandson is in welding and it's all about the technology. And so I'm this is exciting I hope we don't let this committee Falkor because the driving force is finishing her term. This is been a baby from the beginning she and less work to get me to represent you want work together. But I think it's incumbent upon us to look at this more as an economic committee. Because the future of the economy this state is certainly going to be entranced all rent or rent to any strictly intertwined with this thing we call the arts and technology. Would you remains a. That was a really good question thank you yes I would sentence as to build I I absolutely would Senator could I have a quick response still didn't do so your point about the different committees and all referred to it more as silos for a moment. I had called the dean of the art college at south southern Arkansas university they have an art therapy program and they had a gaming and animation program and I said to him how on earth did you no to have those majors because it baffled me how are the clear blue sky they could be totally at the head of the curve his answer. Apparently it S. A. U. they mandate everyone across all the departments to be together all together with everything that they do so when the students said that they wanted an art therapy major and when the students said that they wanted a gaming and animation major it was no big deal. They said well we're gonna need this course from psych in this course from here in this course from there and poof because they're all working together they're able to be on the cutting edge. And that actually has been a whole lot of our experiences we went around the state I would say will how do you know that you know are you psychic no they're talking to people in other fields and that's why even though I am deeply steeped in the arts my entire life is the arts the writing on the wall is art and technology and crossing those silos is really where the excitement is. Thank you doctor shows and I like to call her attention many times we are really really. Good at telling other people how they are so I load but we are the model for site load it in and the Arkansas legislature because we allow our committee structure to be the reason we don't cross paths for example in our in our discussion today their implications about the top of my head for us for the public health committee to hear what's going on. As for the Education Committee to hear what's gonna for the aggravate because we didn't even mention agribusiness agribusiness here but that's one of the huge parts of the creative art for the Agra economic development committee and you can you'd be hard pressed I think to name any one of them where there is not there is not an intersection of art and technology but we tend to stay and our silos and say that has nothing to do with us and that is holding us back I think we really need to when we do our report of maybe suggest some ways to help people think about education for example is not something that needs to happen in the Education Committee I will not we're going to have the and good job is not something just for the economic development committee because if you're out there hunting jobs for jobs in trying to make things better you don't even know about the creative economy. You're missing the future is what you're missing and that's one reason I think it's so important for us to exorcising are privileged to continue to have these these silos that we have defined for ourselves and we'll get a committee of somebody from one of the agents is here speaking to us and then we give them all kind of. get up I'll make it nice at that about be in silos why are you all talking to one another what we are guilty of the same thing in so many ways okay this is a way to kind of bring us together. Who is I thought somebody's that's the last comment. So if if there's not another comment for for doctor doctor shows I think the next thing we can get that get the agenda so as to where we are all discussion about opportunities and challenges of the and the final report Some of the things that were real challenges for us and challenges going for it in even getting this work done is what I'll talk about I I mentioned early on that we got cut short on time because of the long session then because the special session and and were in so many ways held back because of the pandemic of not being able to just go to places many times that was a real problem for a lot of people not wanting to be in the same place as as folks you know during the pandemic but we tried to overcome some of that by having some of these ins but not being able to meet in person not have enough time to get to this place I think was was definitely one of the big challenges that we had and and for the time being I got to be even more of a problem because several folks naturally who had to run for office and who had primary such as a reality and people were not able to attend meetings as we as we wanted to and for everybody who was not able to do so we still need to have you involved and seeing what has been done because we will need to think as we're putting together the report what are the recommendations that we are going to make and all of you have and this pre luminary of a first draft here and I would invite you to be thinking about what are some things based on what you've heard today or that you will see as you contemplate this after today what is in the recommendations and the challenges that you see that we need to be thinking about moving forward is the the other the other big challenges I mentioned earlier what is just not a have been folks. Contribute their time which they did but we if we're going to be serious about this work we need to of. Compensate folks FOR the expertise because nothing makes me feel that's one of my real regrets of not thinking about doing that hi and these folks so graciously volunteer their time but that is very very bothersome to me that it's almost like they volunteered for something to help us get started and this is just kind of got Houston and I think we are going to need their assistance going forward and you know any time you talk about making sure we compensate somebody if it's not some big old. I don't know. I have somebody help us out with testing that just reminded me of one that few days ago that I saw we tend to have real questions about how we spend our money for things that we cannot just say this is exactly this and this is exactly that and we're in that we're we're in that sphere in so many ways but the thing to do is just find out from them you know what what do you need we are going to. Our report I ask I requires us to Send copies of our final a final draft to the governor to the department of education to the economic development department it will be it would be very helpful to you if you sit on committees where you think they ought to hear about what we're talking about in here if you could be a leader on that and get this report before those committees as well because we don't have all the answers we are building something here we're building something. And help people understand you know this is does not some fly by night thing it's going to take work it's going to take imagination from all of us and while I I know I won't be here when this comes as Senate Chesterfield alluded to I I won't be here but I will be around here but I I am just specifically asking you guys to keep the caucus going I think that's a very important thing is a challenge if we don't because when you're trying to build something you need champions otherwise people just make it whatever they think it should be and it gets dismissed so I hope we will keep that going all of these things up in the to put in the in the report and then I think Leslie if if you have any ideas on how insane your ideas about any challenges but I think Leslie making sure that we don't let this become something that just ends up on a shelf because you can like it or not like it I understand that are not understand it if you don't understand it is on the server that's your responsibility to understand that but it is very clear and we're going to grow all over Arkansas. It is going to have to be the creative economy and this continued excuse making is absurd for example there are people in other countries who I understand I would never say about the Delta where there's just nothing there nothing to see. Thank you the fact that we have not done a better job in economizing for example just a music and storytelling. All right in that area it is because we don't we don't have an Avenue for concentrating on it we have to in our report get over those kind of challenges where we have decided in our minds there's just nothing there but you know that for example the Delta is rising I'm just going to say to people if you're going to if you want to be a part of the future and you're going to invest somewhere it needs it better be the delta and south and south Arkansas because it's a growing in those areas but people from other places a coming in and buying up landed okay things because they see possibilities especially the nature and the culture that we have for so many years not economize a few nights ago I I watch them. Again a documentary about blues the delta and we talk about blues in the delta and if you go to state England and talk about believes in the delta they can tell you everything you need to know and I guess what because when the Beatles one be created where did they come to when the rolling stones want to be created for it if they come to what all those folks out of England our state became rich with their music they got their basis and the delta because it was absolutely important in England if Eric Clapton was going to be Eric Clapton he had to come to the delta and understood and the stand with the policeman. One of them what do they know all of this because they understood they could come and I won't say appropriate this music because they were very respectful they could come and they can come to a place where we just calling us nothing there. And they live rich ever after and there are people there now struggling to keep this culture growing it's and it's more than music I just pick that one out because it is always bothered me when I would have a chance to go to other places and when record stores I would always see it particularly London your record stores and you walk in and you're not gonna hear somebody who's an up to date person but Otis Redding is playing or BB king is playing that kind of thing and I found records there I could not find here but in that store what all of these young people who knew this music. I mean just teaching our kids about what's possible and growing our culture through them and that in a generational thing there's just the possibility is there so much less ask of you is please be thinking about. What is possible in this state and the creative economy weathers and health. Whether it's in science away there's going to be the twenty twenty four solar eclipse where is going to go right up from Southwest Arkansas straight up through the northeast now Steven I may be the only people who are watching this every single day because we talk about it time to time but this is a wonderful opportunity for us to have things in place and be thinking about what can we do with the creative economy and the solar eclipse just something like that. because if you've got a pastor I'm saying get ready people will drag their they will drag her bags into your pastor and sleep that night so they can be there to see what's going on out and I will stop there and see if there are any other comments anything else anybody okay and. Okay and representatives is was Fortner on that's right that's right okay and then Senator Irvin I'll come to you represented by you. Thank thank you madam chairman and Senator Joyce I left something out within the technology and music I left out drama. In this is something Senator Joyce back in twenty thirty forty years ago every small school had a drama festival almost every school and I think that's something that we failed to continue through the years in Jonesborough we still have you know productions there but I think that we. We at least encourage our schools to get involved with drama because the drama the music in the technology can definitely be tied together that's it that's right that reminds me that when we visited the film industry in northwest Arkansas and and we've heard this from other areas as well that that's where the biggest part of the film industry is have to be at Little Rock of our film industry could do so much more if they were if they were funded if the infrastructure for the film industry before because that jobs. One of the reasons people can't come here and make it movies is you have to have all kinds of jobs in that infrastructure we've got to grow those jobs because Arkansas is a good place Senator Irvin you have the last word. Well thank you I was actually listening as I was driving trying to get here I was listening to your presentation on online and. I just a few points that I've I wanted to make an. I have some friends that own a shop on the square in Mountain View Arkansas and these ladies so they are creative they make T. service until cases in anything and everything and they sell products. In Mountain View Arkansas during covid they had their best year ever. And it's the creative economy that sustained Mountain View Arkansas and my my area of the state I don't have manufacturing I can't ever get Arkansas Economic Development Commission to even give us any attention up there but it was the creative economy that cat all of my small rule areas going and COVID actually brought people out of the cities and into nature in into our rural parts of the state of Arkansas and we benefited from that because of our vis and camping and all of that but it just I just thought that was very good information that they actually had their best year profitability it was a small business but it's really a creative economy small business because of what they do with their T. shirts in their sewing and embroidering and all that kind of stuff the other thing I want to say is two more points. On the solar eclipse that is coming right straight up north central Arkansas and the buffalo river M. R. buffalo river conservation committee has really been engaged in the that issue and talking about that because the buffalo river in the national park is going to be well suited and write in that pathway Gilbert Arkansas is one of my towns in my district they have been working on a dark skies initiative and they switched out all of their city street lights to make their street lights compatible for their dark sky festivals that they're beginning this fall so that's the I love that idea as well because if you live in a country like me. You just hate all the bright lights that you know grow I mean it's great that people are moving to an area but I like to be out in the middle of the past year where you can see all the stars so I'm very passionate about that as well and then the last thing I would say is I would couple two ideas one is I would love for us to host high school kids at the capitol maybe next session for a legislative arts boot camp festival that we use our plot we use our megaphone that way and we invite them and Wheatley could organize it plan it I just think that would be of a great idea maybe to showcase you know some music and some drama or dance those kinds of things that's an idea and then my other thing that I really want to get accomplished finally is a music roots program in the delta. So would be a companion program to our music roots program we have in Mountain View. Remember the band that played at our Senate president pro tem dinner right Senator Hendren with that senator entrance of the those those kids are music groups to that's the result of a music roots program and so having like a companion program of a music roots program and the blue and the delta that's geared towards the blues we have to make that happen I would love for us to make that happen and it would be kind of a companion program and I could see some cross you know visits and things like that that we could get that going and so you know through a school or several schools here in the delta area so maybe Senator Ingram in his retirement could take that on that anyway that's something. Yeah so anyway those are some things that I would love to see because I totally agree with you when you come to that area of the state we have such a rich how history and culture and heritage just like we do in Mountain View with the folk music and so they've capitalize on that but we gotta keep those programs alive we got to keep that music roots program a live in Stone County and we got a fine one for the delta and make it more robust thank you senator urban and I think that's a great idea about that the kids and and and when we do it but it's a good thing for us to stay fresh and help as the kids to help us understand where C. R. right now that we're not even paying attention to if I may I'm up did you happen to have a statistic in my hip pocket of the. Addresses in nineteen seventy two Stone County was the second poorest county in Arkansas. In recent years it's gone all the way up to twenty fourth now that's actually a huge jump in and the reason for it of course is you have the Ozark folk center there you have a very unique community decided to invest in all all things in the sixties and seventies music and craft and if you think about the little towns around the state most of them are going let's cut down those trees let mine out the silico let's because of course what we're gonna do you're gonna take your natural resources and they decided that their natural resources with polka music and craft and yet they actually stuck to it. I would say it's sort of thriving if they have an excellent school system and an award winning hospital. Because what happens is people want to raise their kids around the crafting Music and so as a result they move their families there so you have a bigger pool to choose from for teachers and a bigger pool to choose from for your medical professionals. The representative Dalby suggestion explicit thank you ma'am sure since we're in this kind of discussion phase and kind of piggybacking what Senator Irvin has just brought up I think that's what's important about this committee to realize or to work toward that each area of the state is vitally important and we can't survive without the others right now the focus. It and rightfully so to some extent has been Northwest Arkansas with the explosion from crystal bridges and all of that but there are steps unique opportunities in each area of each of these districts of our state that are committee needs to you were all not gonna be in Northwest Arkansas role not gonna have a crystal bridges but we may have the Ozark folk center are down in the south as senator Gilmore I saw was here earlier the forestry and what that brings or even the you know the old barns are the festivals or whatever in this committee need to I think that's an important role this committee can do is to show the importance of each area of our state and how we all contribute to the economy in a unique way and how we can grow that uniqueness so that when someone does show up thinking that all there is to Arkansas is crystal bridges they find out that we have the Ozark folk center and how important it is are they find out what's happening in pine bluff because that was amazing that day that we saw how they're transforming things or how even in in southwest Arkansas we were very rich arts did area of it and it but it's a collaborative effort for two states in my area and how important that is that brings people from all over Louisiana Oklahoma Texas Arkansas come to Texarkana for a to see the Perot theatre in on all this here so I just want us to also emphasize that because I think that's extremely important that all areas of our state are vital in each can provide a great economy not only for our people but for the tourists to come to Arkansas and that we don't lose focus that that we all have some. Thing really great people to come see and take part of thank you very good thank you. This is. Senator Chesterfield okay Senate bill you're going to have the and you get no no no you could have a lesser centered was first and then I'm just so you can have the last word and you may have talked about this the agro tourism hot I did their such creativity with winery and and gardening and flowers and all that so it just another area because Missouri southern Missouri and as our mail and I was Ark Arkansas and what's happening there that would be another thing that it is you know when we first created our caucus one of the things we did work with our Kansans for the arts we we had a display over in the capital where yes good well actually there are are you cans for the arts did all the footwork but we ask what we had a place for each one of the districts and bring something that shows the the creative economy where you are but you need somebody competent to make it really grow and it was really amazing and the agro tourism was one of the ones that was so so interesting and another one that they all were but some of the traditional things but somewhere like at my business and then there was one on fashion with two that just stand out to me. How we don't see that like fashion is something you just do in New York and LA and what not and we you know we have a fashion school that is fabulous right here in Arkansas. Right not very far from here right over there and I think one of my new camera Markham and that's something that would a lot of kids could gravitate to and and have a life and grow it here of Senate Chesterfield thank you and speaking of Southwest Arkansas I am working with the University of Arkansas hope Texarkana we just established the door the Mick Fadden Hoover scholarship. And people looking like big deal. She is in the book hidden figures. And one of her creations was a slow flap when you look at the plane the little flap that goes up. She graduated from Henry Clay Yerger high school an all black school in hope Arkansas and we're beginning to find out more more about her our grandparents lived right across the street from my church but we've got great giants who have come out of this state that it would do well for us to study and see the creativity that's there and so we're trying to emphasize her more so that young people see that it doesn't matter where you came from she was one of the figures anything figures and she created that'll flap on the plane that makes it possible. On the flight to take place and break the sound barrier something that simple so we're going to be look at we're going to be incorporating her into the high school museum in hope and hope that folks will come through as soon as we're able to do it and get are up there on the highway sign so that we have some other place other than Washington and the beautiful stuff that's in Texarkana so I just got excited about that and was able to be a part of it but read about Dorothy make that over in our cans and who was a part of hidden figures that helped to develop the little flap on the plane they have to break the seat speed of sound. One of those we losses because we can have a place for her so to speak the way we keep losing kids now all right if there's nothing else then I thank you all for being here and we will take all your comments and see how they need to be incorporated you know as well as we move along and we'll just have to sit and look because there's so much going on study the calendar from whom we would meet again but thank you so much stock the shelves and everybody else is here and we are concerned.